Particulate matter ion Delhi air not as harmful as you think: The Indian Express

“NEW DELHI: A study conducted by government agency System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) has stated that particulate matter that is assumed as the harmful element in Delhi’s air is less harmful than thought.
Project director of SAFAR Gufran Beig revealed this from results of a study undertaken in December, 2016. According to a SAFAR analysis, in Delhi, around 7.6 per cent of the particulates are made of black carbon (BC). Sulphate (SO4) particles stand at around 7 per cent, the larger presence of which would have heightened the toxicity of Delhi’s air.
“The presence of toxic components may be less, but we have to keep in mind the sheer abundance of particulate matter in Delhi’s air. So the volume of particulates, which spikes periodically, may be negating the potential benefits of having less harmful chemical components,” said Beig.
The Indian Express